Did you know that the atmosphere in your home has a direct tie to your health and well being? The home creates an atmosphere but if your kitchen layout drives you crazy hindering you from getting the meal done or your office is so dysfunctional you can’t be productive, your wellness will be thrown off. All of the elements in your home play a part in your health and a good design can help you feel better. 

At Greenbrook Design we specialize in taking the dysfunctional to the functional level. Your home is meant to be a place of rest, where you can look forward to coming home and just unwinding. Today we want to share a few of our best tips that will help you receive the wellness you and your family need.

Purposeful Design

Each room in the home has a function, a reason why it is there, but it must be brought out through the design and specified to your family. If you don’t design the room for you it can result in frustration as you attempt to do your normal routines but are hindered by the lack of function in the space. This leads to a negative attitude and a dread to even enter the dysfunctional area. It is always best to take the time to sit down and mentally go through what you need to accomplish in each area of the home before meeting with your designer. Here are a few things to consider:

• How many people? If there is more than one person in an area certain things need to be considered such as enough space to walk around. Irritation from constant bumping into the other person creates a bad atmosphere and mood.
• What time of day? Will you use this space predominantly at night or during the day? Rather during the day or night, you may need to have some additional thought given to lighting as well as window treatments.
• Is this a multifunctional space? Does your kitchen also double as the kids homework station? Consider including a large island where they can spread out but not get in the way of meal prep.

Planning is key to the design but you need to know what is important first. Time spent going through your needs is never a waste.

Helpful Elements

Certain design elements can help create a relaxing atmosphere in the home and by including them in turn can help you have a place to unwind and make you look forward to coming home. Here are a few of our favorite:

• Natural light: light is influential on our moods and natural light is a must for many areas of the home including the main living areas such as the kitchen and family room.
• Fitness: exercise is more than just staying fit, it also allows us to burn off our stress from a weary day at the office. Consider including an area where you can have some fitness equipment.
• Comfort: we all need those cozy areas in the home that have some of our favorite things such as a reading nook, a place to watch our favorite sports game, or even a little area where you can put your feet up and rest.

We all need a little help to get back to our center, to clear the mind and just forget about the day’s business. This is an important part of creating the perfect home environment for the whole family. Read a few more things that are helpful to include in your home design from the national Kitchen and Bath Association.

Outdoor Spaces

Fresh air is sometimes just what we need to escape from the day’s events. Having an outdoor space gives your family a comfortable, refreshing place to gather and spend time doing something fun together. 

• Outdoor kitchens are perfect for changing up the routine by having dinner outside. 
• Having a back deck means you can sit around a table and just talk about what everyone did or maybe play a game or two. 
• A play area allows the kids to burn some energy out in the fresh air meaning they will probably go to bed early. 

Talk to your designer about adding an outdoor area so you and your family can have places both inside and out where you can go and relax. We can also be your source for outdoor lighting and furniture. See a project that included an outdoor space that the whole family enjoyed.

Wellness in the Home

Your home is your refuge, the one place you can go and be one hundred percent yourself. It is meant to be a space that you look forward to seeing each time you pull in the driveway. Our team of experienced designers have helped numerous clients not only a new renovated space but one that feels exactly as it should, like home.